Legislative Update from Rep. Rick Rand March 13, 2017

March 13, 2017

The 2017 session is coming down to the wire, with major legislation still left to consider on two “concurrence” days next week. After March 15th, we recess until March 29th and 30th, when we reconvene for our final two days to review any gubernatorial vetoes.

During “concurrence,” both the House and Senate will try to reach agreement on amendments to bills that have been adopted by the other chamber. There is a chance we’ll also hear some important Senate bills for the first time when we return next week, but a suspension of the rules will be necessary to consider those matters.

In House action this week, we took a step closer toward moving Kentucky into compliance with tougher federal security standards by approving legislation that would create “voluntary travel ID” cards – an enhanced driver’s license that could be used to board airplanes and enter certain federal facilities, including military facilities like Fort Knox and Fort Campbell.

On March 7th, the House approved House Bill 410, which allows individuals to receive the optional travel ID for $5 more than the standard drivers’ license by presenting a copy of their birth certificate and Social Security card. Under the legislation, licenses, permits and IDs — both enhanced and standard — would be issued by the state Transportation Cabinet instead of the state Office of the Circuit Court Clerk, as they are now. These new licenses and IDs would be renewed for eight years instead of the current four.

Kentucky is one of five states that have not met requirements of a 2005 federal law requiring enhanced security features for driver’s licenses following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Kentucky came close to resolving this issue during the 2016 session, when both the House and Senate agreed to similar legislation, but the bill was vetoed by Gov. Bevin. HB 410 now goes to the Senate for its consideration.

On March 8th, the Houses voted 77-18 to provide school districts with more flexibility in setting school calendars. Under Senate Bill 50, districts could begin using the “variable instructional year” for the 2018-2019 school year if their first day of instruction is on or after the Monday closest to Aug. 26. Many school districts in Kentucky start in early August, and supporters of the bill say it will allow families to have more vacation time and support Kentucky’s tourism industry.

The legislation is designed to be voluntary, but there was some concern expressed that those schools that do opt for a later start date would either have to extend their school day or continue meeting into the month of June because of state requirements for instructional hours. The legislation now heads to the governor’s office for his consideration.

This week, we also approved Senate Bill 17, which would specify in state law that Kentucky’s public school students and public college or university students are allowed to express their religious and political views in their school work, artwork and speeches. The legislation states that public school students are allowed to display religious messages on their clothes while at school, use school newspapers and public address systems to announce student religious meetings, and distribute political literature on school grounds.

Additionally, we approved Senate Bill 8, which would reduce Planned Parenthood’s access to local, state and federal family planning funds.

Other legislation approved the House this week included:

Senate Bill 218, an industrial hemp bill designed to improve the production program first established in Kentucky in 2013 that authorized industrial hemp research programs at the state level. State Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles said this year marks Kentucky’s largest industrial hemp crop under the program, with over 12,000 acres approved for production. The bill was sent to the Governor on March 8 after passing the House by a vote of 88-3 on Tuesday.

HB 323 would allow anyone who was a Kentucky resident when they enlisted for active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces or Reserves or the National Guard to pay the Kentucky resident rate for Kentucky hunting and fishing licenses and permits. HB 323 passed the House on a 92-0 vote on Monday and is now awaiting action in the Senate.

Before leaving Frankfort this week, I joined my colleagues in the House Minority in expressing alarm regarding Senate amendments proposed to a House bill that would remove Kentucky’s Attorney General as the state’s chief law officer and give the governor “exclusive authority” to represent the state in most legal matters.

House Bill 281 was originally drafted to set limits on payment of legal fees awarded by the Attorney General’s office and is now pending in the Senate Judiciary Committee. With these new amendments under consideration, the bill resembles a power grab by the governor’s office and is not in the best interests of our constitutional requirements for a separation of power among the three branches of government. If you share my concerns regarding this legislation, I encourage you to contact your state senator by calling 1-800-372-7181. That’s the number you can reach me, too, as well as by email at rick.rand@lrc.ky.gov.

State Rep. Rick Rand represents the state’s 47th House District in Carroll, Gallatin, Henry and Trimble counties.